Program Management Analyst

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Racing is a small team of dedicated engineers and program leaders who transform mainstream Ford vehicles into extraordinary performance machines. Based in Allen Park, MI, Ford Racing programs move quickly, operate with lean teams, and require strong cross-functional leadership to deliver great products from concept through launch. We are seeking a Program Management Analyst to join the Ford Racing team. Unlike a traditional PM role where responsibilities may be split across multiple people, this position often carries broader ownership across one or more key program management pillars, including program planning, program control, studio, prototype, and launch. This is an individual contributor role, but it requires strong leadership through influence, sound judgment, and the ability to drive cross-functional teams to clear decisions and issue closure. The Ford Racing Program Management Analyst provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to current and forward model Ford Racing programs. Program Management teams are responsible for managing the milestones, decisions, and deliverables required to take vehicles from concept to production while supporting the business plan, vehicle quality, launch readiness, and exceptional customer appeal. Because Ford Racing programs are leaner and more agile than traditional vehicle programs, this role requires broader ownership and strong cross-functional leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with Engineering, Studio, Marketing, Manufacturing, New Model Programs, Finance, Purchasing, Logistics, Capacity Planning, and Launch teams to deliver program milestones and business objectives. Depending on program needs and candidate experience, responsibilities may span multiple program management disciplines rather than being limited to a single workstream.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in an Engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in automotive product development, program management, design and release, manufacturing engineering, plant vehicle operations, or launch
• Strong knowledge of vehicle development milestones, deliverables, and program management disciplines
• Strong critical thinking, prioritization, and organizational skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive issues to closure without direct authority
• Ability to consolidate diverse inputs and develop a clear point of view and recommendation
• Resilience, adaptability, and a strong ownership mindset

Nice To Haves

• Powertrain unit program planning and delivery experience
• Experience leading cross-functional vehicle programs from concept through launch
• Previous Design & Release or other technical engineering experience
• Experience with prototype builds, launch execution, and change management disciplines
• Knowledge of Ford product development processes and milestone deliverables
• Familiarity with Ford PD systems and tools such as PDL, OPTEX, WERS, Jira, and GPDS-related deliverables
• Experience leading program-led meetings and decision forums
• Master of Science in Engineering or MBA
• Passion for performance vehicles and enthusiasm for Ford Racing products

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key program integrator across current and forward model Ford Racing programs
• Lead cross-functional alignment across planning, control, studio, prototype, and launch activities
• Drive delivery of program milestones, assumptions, timing, and issue resolution from concept through production
• Develop and communicate clear program recommendations, status, risks, and recovery actions to leadership
• Lead through influence across multiple organizations without direct authority
• Lead or support development of Product Direction Letters, including features, options, and color/material content
• Interface with Marketing, Planning, Engineering, and Finance to support business case development, product content decisions, and offering strategy
• Support development of milestone papers, special studies, and key program assumptions
• Facilitate program assumption reviews and related cross-functional meetings
• Own or support program timing, workplans, GPDS deliverables, and program health reporting
• Lead core program forums such as Program Steering Team meetings, decision forums, and milestone readiness reviews
• Coordinate sourcing readiness, including part and tool order tracking, in partnership with Purchasing
• Lead or support complexity, capacity, and milestone readiness activities
• Manage engineering changes, gateway readiness, and follow-up actions to closure
• Co-lead Appearance Approval Forum meetings and key studio milestone reviews
• Lead Color Harmony and Appearance Approval Report processes
• Lead Color & Material Product Direction Letter development
• Drive cross-functional issue resolution for studio feasibility, appearance, and content decisions
• Lead prototype build planning and vehicle build execution from prototype through production readiness
• Manage launch-related issue identification, change control, escalation, and recovery tracking
• Support plant-facing and product development launch issue resolution processes
• Drive robust implementation of changes needed to support timing, quality, and launch readiness

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level